The most successful film series in history have earned huge sums at the box office. From the action-packed superhero sagas of DC and Marvel to family-friendly franchises:
Find out which film series became the biggest box office hits of all time. Which spot in the top 21 surprises you the most?
All monetary amounts account for inflation and have been converted from US dollars to euros, unless otherwise stated
21. Twilight – €4.3 billion
When Twilight, based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling book series, hit the big screen in 2008, few teenage girls were not captivated by the vampire romance saga.
The four novels were adapted into five films, which grossed a total of $3.3 billion, equivalent to €4.3 billion today. An animated Netflix version of the series has been in development since 2022 and will retell the love story from the perspective of vampire Edward Cullen, who falls for Bella.
20. Ice Age – €4.5 billion
It’s hard to believe that more than 20 years have passed since the first Ice Age film hit theatres. Released in March 2002, it grossed $386 million worldwide, equivalent to over €601 million today.
The five Ice Age films have grossed a total of €4.5 billion, adjusted for inflation. The spin-off, Ice Age: The Adventures of Buck Wild, released in January 2022 on Disney+, received very negative reviews compared to the main series.
19. Toy Story – €4.5 billion
For almost three decades, Pixar Studios has captivated the imaginations of both children and adults with its animations. It all began in 1995 with Toy Story. The film was not only the first feature-length animated movie created entirely on a computer, but also marked the start of the collaboration between Pixar and Disney.
The five films in the series have grossed €4.5 bn worldwide at the box office, adjusted for inflation. This total is likely to grow further, as a new Toy Story instalment is scheduled for release in 2026. The franchise’s popularity has even inspired themed games at online casinos such as Richard Casino with their Richard Casino sign up bonus, where players can enjoy Toy Story-inspired slots.
18. Mission: Impossible – €5.5 billion
Tom Cruise has been thrilling cinema audiences worldwide since the 1990s with his daring stunts in the Mission: Impossible films. Who can forget the fearless actor climbing the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, for Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011)? Photos from the shoot showing Cruise scaling the 828-metre-high skyscraper while attached to a climbing harness are enough to make even the bravest daredevil dizzy.
To date, the seven films in this action-packed series have grossed a total of €5.5 billion, adjusted for inflation. The eighth film, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, is scheduled for release in May 2025.
17. Shrek – €5.7 billion
The world of the ogre Shrek has now achieved cult status. The computer-animated films combine unforgettable characters, captivating stories, and plenty of humour, all rounded off with a brilliant soundtrack.
The first film in the series was released in 2001, followed by three sequels and two Puss in Boots spin-offs. In total, the franchise has grossed $4 bn worldwide, which, adjusted for inflation, corresponds to €5.7 bn today.
With a new Shrek film set to hit cinemas in 2026, the box office is likely to ring again.
16. Despicable Me – €6.1 billion
The launch of the Despicable Me film franchise in 2010 sparked a veritable Minion mania. The stories surrounding the little yellow creatures have since expanded into five more films, including two Minions spin-offs.
The latest film, Despicable Me 4, was released in July 2024 and grossed over €888 million. In total, the series has grossed €6.1 billion at the global box office, adjusted for inflation.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean – €6.2 billion
Pirates of the Caribbean was an instant success for Disney. Before the release of the first instalment of the pirate saga in 2003, the company had not produced a major live-action hit in decades. That changed when the original film grossed over €1 billion, adjusted for inflation.
Between 2006 and 2017, Disney released four sequels, and the adventure saga centred around Captain Jack Sparrow grossed a total of €6.2 billion, adjusted for inflation.
14. Avatar – €6.4 billion
James Cameron’s Avatar became the highest-grossing film of all time upon its release in 2009. The science fiction epic grossed an incredible $2.9 billion worldwide, equivalent to around €4 bn adjusted for inflation.
Fans had to wait 13 years for the sequel. In December 2022, Avatar: The Way of Water hit cinemas, earning €2.5 bn adjusted for inflation. The franchise has already grossed €6.4 billion, with two more films planned.
13. Transformers – €6.5 billion
When you think of the Transformers series, based on the iconic Hasbro toys from the 1980s, Michael Bay’s action-packed saga probably comes to mind first. However, the first installment in the science fiction franchise was actually released in 1986 as the animated The Transformers: The Movie.
It grossed only $5.8 million at the box office, equivalent to €15.4 million today—a modest start compared to the billion-dollar blockbuster franchise Michael Bay later created. To date, the series has grossed a total of €6.5 billion worldwide, adjusted for inflation.
12. DC Extended Universe – €8.2 billion
The rival superhero franchise DC, following in Marvel’s footsteps, launched the DC Extended Universe in 2013 with Man of Steel.
To date, the franchise has grossed €8.2 billion worldwide. The latest film, Aquaman: Lost Kingdom, was released in cinemas in 2023.
11. The Lord of the Rings – €8.3 billion
The Lord of the Rings film series, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s bestselling books, is one of the most popular fantasy series ever. The six films, including the three prequels based on The Hobbit, grossed over $5.8 billion worldwide, equivalent to €8.3 billion today.
Another film, The Hunt for Gollum, is set to hit cinemas in 2026. Director Peter Jackson is on board as producer, and actor Andy Serkis will reprise his iconic role as Gollum and also direct.
9. (awarded twice) Jurassic Park – €8.4 billion
Steven Spielberg can always be relied upon to deliver quality work, and Jurassic Park is no exception. The Oscar winner directed only two of the installments but served as producer on all six.
The popular dinosaur franchise has grossed $6 bn worldwide, equivalent to €8.4 billion today. A new instalment, Jurassic World Rebirth, is set to hit cinemas in July 2025.
9. (awarded twice) Fast and Furious – €8.4 billion
Although the series keeps getting wilder – in Fast & Furious 9, a car is literally shot into space – fans can’t seem to get enough of the action saga.
The ten main installments and the spin-off have grossed a combined $7.3 billion, equivalent to €8.4 billion adjusted for inflation. With several more entries in the works, that total is sure to rise.
8. X-Men – €8.6 billion
Another superhero franchise is X-Men, based on the popular Marvel comics. Although it is a Marvel creation, the 13 films to date have been produced by 20th Century Fox, starting with X-Men in 2000.
The latest film, Deadpool & Wolverine, was released in July 2024 and grossed an impressive €1.1 billion. In total, the film series has grossed €8.6 bn, adjusted for inflation.
7. The Avengers – €9.1 billion
Spoiler alert: Later, we will discuss the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe, which also includes the Avengers. However, we are treating The Avengers as a separate series in this ranking, as the superhero saga has a lot of impact on its own.
Although the series comprises only four instalments, it has grossed nearly $7.8 billion at the box office – or €9.1 billion at today’s value. This clearly deserves its own place in our ranking. Two further sequels, Avengers: Doomsday and Avengers: Secret Wars, are already in the works and are scheduled for release in 2026 and 2027 respectively.
6. Batman – €9.7 billion
The Batman film series began with Tim Burton’s 1989 film, in which Michael Keaton took on the role of the hero. Since then, 15 films have been released in cinemas, grossing a total of $6.8 billion, or €9.7 billion adjusted for inflation.
Probably the most iconic portrayal of the Caped Crusader comes from Christopher Nolan’s dark trilogy starring Christian Bale. However, there have also been several new films over the years, such as The LEGO Batman Movie (2017) and the psychological rollercoaster Joker (2019) starring Joaquin Phoenix. The latest instalment, The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson, was released in cinemas in March 2022.
5. Spider-Man – £9.7 billion
The Marvel Cinematic Universe also includes the three Spider-Man films starring Tom Holland, but our ranking also covers the films produced by Sony: the Sam Raimi trilogy starring Tobey Maguire, the two Amazing Spider-Man films starring Andrew Garfield, and the two animated Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse spin-offs.
To date, the franchise has grossed an incredible €9.7 bn.
4. Harry Potter – €13.3 billion
The Harry Potter films, based on the popular book series by J.K. Rowling, have enchanted audiences since the release of the first instalment, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (2001).
The eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs have grossed a total of €13.3 billion. In addition, a new adaptation in the form of a television series is currently in the works.
3. James Bond – £17.7 billion
The very first James Bond film, Dr. No, was released in British cinemas in October 1962. For more than 60 years, the spy film series has captivated audiences around the world.
Since then, seven actors have played the iconic secret agent in 27 films, which have grossed a total of $7.9 bn. Adjusted for inflation, that equates to €20.3 billion.
2. Star Wars – €18.3 billion
Star Wars ranks third in our ranking. The three main trilogies and spin-off films have grossed a staggering $10.3 billion worldwide, which is equivalent to €18.3 billion today.
With several new Star Wars films set to hit cinemas in the coming years, it is only a matter of time before this figure rises further.
1. Marvel Cinematic Universe – €43 billion
And the winner is – unsurprisingly – the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Since Iron Man (2008), an incredible 35 films from the Marvel universe have been released, grossing over €43 billion after adjusting for inflation.
With numerous other films already in the works, Marvel will likely remain at the top of the most successful film series of all time for years to come. The latest blockbuster, Captain America: Brave New World, was released in cinemas in February 2025.
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